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Friday, June 22, 2007

mom . ..can I try on your wedding dress . .. again?

I wonder how many times my mom heard me ask her if I could try on her wedding dress. It wasn't a dress to be played in. When I was allowed she would take it out of the tissue and help me pull it over my head and I would walk around in the soft satin dress for a while and then it would come off. She would carefully put it back in the tissue and in the box.

I don't need to ask her anymore, I've been given the job of "keeper of the dress". Now I carefully pull it out of my cedar chest and carefully iron out the sharp creases and the thrill of wearing her dress is still the same. My mom made her dress, veil and crepe paper flower bouquet. Make sure you click on the pictures below to see the details a bit better. Wasn't she just beautiful? My Dad gave her the locket she was wearing. I still have it . .with their pictures still inside.

This morning when I came out wearing it, Terry looked at me and asked . . ."going somewhere?"

My parents would have been married 65 years this month if they would still be with us. Had they been alive, they certainly would have celebrated. They did every year, thanking the Lord for the years that He gave them.

My mom wrote down her thoughts about their wedding day and I pulled it out again to read it. I thought especially for my family it would be nice to know what she wrote concerning that special day.

Wedding Day in Glenbush Saskatchewan

I was too excited to go back to sleep, trying hard to lay still so I would not awaken Mary. I was wondering about how did they decorate the church, would it be ready? The choir and the young people had volunteered to do this for us, and we were not to come and peek.Finally everyone was awake and excitement increased. Everyone was buzzing around, chores still had to be done, and dinner to get started. My dear Aron come in the morning and we did not go to church today (it was a Sunday). We had a little time to reflect on the past - how the Lord lead us in such a wonderful way, and from now on we could share life together, no more curfews, what joy filled our hearts. Just to know also that God has said - "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you" Hebrews 13:5. We wanted our lives to shine for Jesus.Soon the guests started to arrive for the dinner meal of Plumi Moos and potato salad and I do not remember what kind of meat, but ,more than likely it was ham. Our guests were Mr. and Mrs. Nick Pauls, Mr. and Mrs. David Epp fromSilberfeld, Mr. and Mrs. Andres Aron's parents and a teacher that was boarding with them. I don't know how long it took us all to eat, but that was beside the point at this time. When everyone was finished eating it was time for me to get dressed up.It was Aron's mother that helped me. I remember Grandpa had to leave his room and that's where I was getting all prettied up. My heart was racing and I almost felt like crying. I was so excited. Finally I was ready and came out to meet my waiting bridegroom. Finally the people started leaving for church and less commotion and we were expecting our wedding car to arrive soon. Aron had asked Mr. Klassen if we could use their car - the nicest one around. Of course he gave permission and it was Abe that came to pick us up. They had to decorate it a little bit first - I can't remember who came with him, was it his sister Tina or else it seems to me that it was Gladys Harms, his girlfriend. We finally were all set to go, and for some reason it was decided we must be 5 minutes late, so everyone would be ready and expecting us. So, it was, when we arrived at the church we were surprised to see so many cars there never mind the buggies. The church was filled to capacity and waiting. We had no attendants, we walked in arm and arm. When we were ready our pianist palyed "Saviour Like a Shepherd Lead us" and we walked down the aisel to our awaiting chairs beneath a bower of wild roses - it was so beautiful. The young people had done such a wonderful job. It paid to sit down for wedding ceremonies in those days. We had three messages.She also mentions that their good camera had not cooperated and so the pictures of the wedding were actually taken later. There was a reception after the wedding but they had no sweets except for the wedding cake. There was a war on and the rations were in effect.

After the wedding they went home to do chores again and then went back to the church to pick up their gifts.Amazing . .. such a simple wedding and yet they were happy.

She wrote these words as part of her life story finishing it less than a year before she passed away. What a gift to all of us.

(this picture was taken at their 50th wedding anniversary)

As I'm writing this in the background the group Chicago is playing the song "You're my inspiration". It seems so fitting. I'm choking up when I think of how much you loved one another. Mom and Dad you often have been my inspiration. You were such a wonderful example to us kids.

You did the best you knew how. The best gift you gave us is loving one another. What a fantastic heritage I have.

22 comments:

Oh they look like the kindest people ever. I met your father once when mom took me to see him in the hospital but i never had the pleasure of meeting your mom. I can't wait. She seems like an amazing person. You look beauitful in that dress Lovella i can see your mom in you. Have a great day!

Oh Lovella, What a treasure to have your mother's thoughts about her wedding day written. This post is just delightful from beginning to end. The cake is so "now" isn't it? You can fit in her dress, how sweet is that. I can go on and on. Thanks for sharing...

I think we need to find a hankie icon for the top of these kinds of postings. Your mom was so beautiful, and your dad so handsome. And she was carrying the BIGGEST bouquet of flowers I have ever seen. I feel like I got to share in their day...the power of the written word carries me there in a way that just a picture never could. What a blessing to have had a mom who wrote!

oh lovella..........i'm sitting hear with tears in my eyes...what a beautiful testimony of your parents life and the early anticipation of their wedding day. God certainly blessed them richly and you are right what a rich inheritance of faith they left your family.

Your mother was beautiful on her wedding day. You look a lot like her. Compared to the fuss around weddings today, it's nice to know that one can have a simple wedding, still do chores before and after, and be ever so happy. What a treasure it is for your mom to have written her life story for her family.

Lovella...What a beautiful heritage your parents have given you! You are so blessed to have had godly parents who have surely passed down their love of the Lord for many generations to come. This has brought tears to my eyes, as I recall the years my husband and I wasted before coming to the Lord in 1978. So now WE have to be the ones to pass down to OUR children and our childrens children. Lord bless you!

Lovella, what a beautiful post. Your mother (and you) looked gorgeous in that dress. What a special gift - to leave you stories about her life, and many great memories. I have my mother's wedding dress too, but unfortunately it's not quite so well preserved. My oldest sister was going to wear it for her wedding, took it to the dry cleaner, got it back and realized they had torn the entire back, nowhere near a seam. Not a word said to her when she picked it up. I'll have to pull it out and give it some TLC.

Beautiful post, Lovella. What a wonderful heritage you have in your parent's Godliness. How honoring to them it is to see the ways in which you and Terry have passed it on to your sons. Thank you so much for sharing such sweet memories.

[And I can't help going away with a chuckle at Terry's "going somewhere?"]

The power of memories is contagious! They move us well past the event and into the future. Ever wonder what your granddaughter will think of your wedding dress? I think she will be tickled pink with the purple outfit you sewed for Terrance & Bea's wedding! Your handcrafting skills are also a gift that is passed on, obviously, from generation to generation. Not only do you look like your Mom in the top photo, you are probably very much your mother's daughter in many other ways. Take writing for example. Who would have guessed at an earlier stage in your lives that you would both move people to such emotion through your scribing?! What a wonderful heritage!

I love this post. I was thinking the same thing as Becky ... that not only do you look like your Mom, but you write like her, too. With emotion and love. Brought me to tears. Thank you for continuing with your gift of writing.

What a special treasure to have both the dress and your mother's writings, and those lovely photos for memories. Such a beautiful story and tribute to your folks and their love; you are indeed blessed!

Your mom's sweet tender heart that I remember can be heard in the words she wrote about her wedding day. I always have seen your Dad in you, but in these photos I really see your Mom in you too. I know how special it is for you to have all those treasures of your parents, the writing, the locket and the dress. How fun to slip it on now and again. They did share a precious love for many years. Kathy